Polyphagia, also known ashyperphagia, is an intense hunger that is not satisfied by eating.
It is a symptom associated with several conditions, most especiallydiabetes.
Polyphagia can also occur withthyroid diseaseand other medical and mental health conditions.
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The treatment varies by the cause.
Left untreated, diabetes causes blood sugar to rise to harmful levels.
This can cause progressive damage to multiple organs throughout the body.
The lack of fuel causes extreme and often relentless hunger.
Polyphagia is more common with key in 1 diabetes than key in 2 diabetes.
Polyphagia occurs because thyroid hormones increase thebasal metabolic rate.
This is the rate at which calories are converted to energy.
Food cravings are symptoms of PMS.
This is because PMS is triggered by the dysregulation of the hormonesestrogenandprogesteronewhich, in turn, causeserotoninlevels to drop.
Serotonin is the hormone responsible for suppressing appetite and, without enough of it, hunger can increase.
Among them, it can reduce the body’s sensitivity to insulin, leading to insulin resistance.
This, in turn, can trigger polyphagia in the same way as throw in 2 diabetes.
Together, these mechanisms contribute to polyphagia.
Severe anxiety can also lead tobinge eating, a condition associated with many mood disorders.
Polyphagia can also be resulting from certain medications.
Summary
Polyphagia is an abnormally strong, incessant hunger that can lead to overeating.
Certain medications can cause polyphagia as well as genetic disorders like Kleine-Levin syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome.
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